Final Research Proposal

TAYLOR REYNOLDS
December 13, 2015

Introduction
Throughout the semester, the social science topic that I decided to focus on and further
investigate for the Research Proposal Project, was the role that alcohol plays in the hook up
culture on college campuses, specifically, here at Penn State. After having completed the
Literature Review Outline and taken a closer look at previous studies that have already been
done on my topic, the main research question that I proposed was How do underclassmen (men
and women) who participate in campus hookup culture understand their behavior and the role of
alcohol therein? Beyond the role of alcohol, I wanted to pay close attention to the minor details
of hooking up such as setting, practices of informants' friends, and reported characteristics of
hook up partners. I was also interested in investigating the history of alcohol consumption and
hooking up, when and where these behaviors were first initiated, and whether one has ever been
done without the other. I chose to explore this particular topic because being a sophomore in
college and having been exposed to the hook up scene that occurs here, I find that alcohol plays a
vital role with when, where, and why people hook up. Therefore, I am very interested in finding
if these assumptions/beliefs hold true with other students my age. It is easy for many people to
assume that most hook ups take place in an environment where alcohol is provided, for example
frats, in which the two individuals are both highly intoxicated. With this in mind, I found this
research project to be the perfect opportunity to dig deep and gain a better understanding of why
these things happen the way they do.
Literature Review
When completing the Literature Review Outline, I will admit that I was a bit surprised to
see the amount of research that has been conducted pertaining to alcohol consumption and
hooking up among University Students. Each study that I looked at differed in what the
researchers decided to focus on and how they perceived the hookup culture, which was
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beneficial to me because it expanded my knowledge and forced me to look at all angles of the
topic. The National Research Council conducted a study in 1996 examining the relation between
sexual assault and alcohol consumption. They focused more on the risk factors and consequences
of unwanted sex among University Students. The overall results of the study showed a strong
correlation between sexual assault and the consumption of alcohol (National Research Council,
1996). One of their key findings included that sexual assault among college students is strongly
related to the consumption of alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
reports that approximately 40% of college students show regular, heavy use of alcohol, often
with serious consequences, such as sexual assault (2002).
A similar 2007 study conducted by Flack et al, also looked at reasons for unwanted
sexual intercourse, and found that the most frequently endorsed reason for unwanted sexual
intercourse was impaired judgment due to alcohol consumption. The overall purpose of the study
was to investigate relationships among four types of unwanted sexual behavior, and likely risk
factors such as female gender and alcohol intoxication. I was not surprised to learn that 78% of
unwanted fondling incidents occur at parties or bars where alcohol consumption takes place
(Flack et al., 2007). Three key results that I found interesting were 32.4% of women and men
reporting they were taken advantage of because they were wasted, 32.4% reporting that they
thought they wanted it at the time, and 24.3% reporting that they couldnt control themselves
because they were so turned on (Flack et al., 2007). These results imply that alcohol plays a key
factor in hooking up because it forces you in thinking you what something that you wouldnt
want if you were sober. Claxton and van Dulmen (2013) conducted a study looking specifically
at casual sexual relationships and experiences (CSREs) such as hook ups, on-night stands, etc.
Their research primarily focuses on predictors of CSREs, one being alcohol use. Claxton and van

Dulmen go into depth about how the frequency and amount of alcohol someone drinks, is
consistently associated with higher numbers of sexual partners and risky sexual experiences
(2013). One key finding of their study showed that alcohol use is the most highly cited reason
that college students give for engaging in CSEs. Finally, I came across a 2015 study that took a
more general focus and examined perceived links between alcohol use and sexual experiences.
Lefkowitz et al. aimed to understand college students perceptions of how their own alcohol use
is linked to their sexual experiences, very similar to what I want to understand more about. In
their study, Lefkowitz et al. coded participants responses to an open-ended question about how
their alcohol use and sexual feelings were related. The main key finding of the study showed that
the most common responses to this question, were that alcohol leads to arousal and disinhibition
(Lefkowitz et al., 2015). I was surprised to learn that emerging adults generally perceive the
short-term outcomes of alcohol use positively. Results also showed that emerging adults who
drink alcohol more frequently or get drunk tend to have more sexual partners, and 31% of
participants reported alcohol being associated with sexual arousal, pleasure, and/or performance
(Lefkowitz et al., 2015). Also, 37% of heavy drinkers perceived alcohol as related to increased
arousal/horniness (Lefkowitz et al., 2015). In the article, the researchers also discussed the
possibility of alcohol use increasing the likelihood of proceeding to more intimate sexual
behaviors than one would have if sober.
In looking at previous studies, the most prevalent thing that I learned and noticed was that
whether it is weak or strong, there is an evident correlation between hooking up and alcohol
consumption, especially sexual assault. I also saw a reoccurring theme in most of the studies I
looked at, which is impaired judgment (due to alcohol) being the most frequent reported reason
for unwanted sexual intercourse. A great explanation as to why alcohol plays such a crucial role

in sexual behavior, is because there is a positive link between alcohol use and increased sexual
feelings. It forces you to believe you want something at the time that in fact, you dont actually
want. Lastly, I began to view hooking up as a more casual encounter that occurs frequently
because it is now becoming the official norm among college students.
Methods and Data
Sampling method: For my research strategy, I would collect my own data through a
qualitative interview study. In selecting the type of sampling I would engage in based on what is
most appropriate to my research, you reminded me not be selective in my sampling approach
because I want to study all kinds of students here at Penn State, whether they have engaged in
hooking up/alcohol or not. However, since I would be doing a small qualitative interview study, I
thought it would be best to have a sample of students who do engage in this type of behavior.
Therefore, my sampling method would be nonprobability sampling, specifically,
purposive/judgmental sampling. This would be most appropriate because I am aiming at studying
a small subset of a larger population. Since I am not actually carrying out this research, I will be
more ruthless with my proposed sample size and say it would range from 30-80. When obtaining
my sample, I would not want randomness because I would want to make sure that I gather
information from students of different ages and genders in order to see if there are any
differences in answers among a variety of demographics. I would want to target primarily
underclassmen (ages 18-20) because they are more exposed to the campus hook up culture than
upperclassmen who may go to bars rather than parties. In obtaining my sample, I would make
sure that my participants do not consist of close friends and I would strive to choose students
who I am unacquainted with.

As for generalizability, I dont think it is something I would have to take into

consideration since almost no qualitative research is externally generalizable. I would just have
to be careful not to overgeneralize since like you said, previous work has shown that many fewer
college students party/binge drink/hook up than is generally assumed. And for external validity, I
think I am at an advantage because from what I study and learn within my sample, to an extent, I
will be able to accurately relate this information to what happens with other underclassmen who
participate in their campus hookup culture at other universities.
Research method: When gathering my research, my realistic plan would be to conduct
between 30-80 qualitative interviews depending on my sample size of course. The interview
would consist of roughly 10 open-ended questions regarding the role of alcohol in hooking up,
the setting in which this takes place, characteristics of their hook up partners, and the overall
social functions of these people. This way I could focus on the connections and meanings that I
observe in individuals rather than just doing it in a simple, straight-forward way (like a
questionnaire). Focusing on the strengths of my data collection approach, a qualitative approach
offers a lot of benefits that a more generalizable survey-based approach could not. This includes
simple things like low cost, a higher response rate, ability to probe, and more in-depth answers.
If a respondent gives an incomplete or incorrect answer, I could probe for an answer and say
something like how is that? and get a more elaborate/in-depth response. This approach also
allows for me to gather emotional data rather than just hard data and to control the conversations.
Keeping in mind that my interviewees would serve as connections and developing concepts,
other strengths to qualitative interviewing include the ability to ask my subjects how they define
certain concepts so that I can gain better and more accurate results. I can also identify the themes
of how people think about an issue, and how that influences their behavior. In this case, I can

identify certain themes of how my subjects think about the hook up culture here at Penn State
and the role that alcohol plays in hooking up, then how this influences their overall hook
up/drinking behaviors. The greatest disadvantage my method presents other than the fact that its
time consuming, is problems with reliability because like I said before, people disagree on
concepts/definitions and that can produce different results.
Time dimension: As for time, since I would be interviewing a group of 18-20 year old
students at one point in time, I saw my study as a type of cross-sectional study. I dont see a need
to follow up with my participants due to the fact that I would be gathering my data through sitdown interviews and not through a mail questionnaire (especially since I wont be worried about
response rates). An advantage that my usage of time presents is that I dont have to worry about
following up with my subjects but a disadvantage would be that qualitative interviews are time
consuming.
Data: The key independent variables that I will collect are as follows: alcohol
(specifically drinking behavior), ones relationship status, and hooking up behavior. The
dependent variable is whether or not/how well these students understand their behavior and the
role of alcohol in their hook ups. I chose these variables because reflecting back on my big
question of How do underclassmen (men and women) who participate in campus hookup
culture understand their behavior and the role of alcohol therein? the understanding/awareness
of alcohol and their behavior in their hook ups remains the dependent variable since it depends
on the independent variables, which are alcohol, relationship status, and hooking up behavior. I
would measure these variables through my measurement device which are the interviews I would
be conducting. I would be sure to be very careful in defining and operationalizing the distinction
between unwanted sex and sexual assault since although they sound very much alike, they are
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very different. I would measure them in a way that makes the most sense to all my respondents
so that they are able to respond in an honest and consistent manner. I would operationalize
alcohol intake/drinking behavior by asking respondents how many drinks did you consume?
Then I would operationalize hooking up behavior by asking how often or frequently do you
hook up on a regular basis? then I would break this question up into two parts: how often do
you hook up when you are sober? and how often do you hookup when you are drunk? This
would allow me to see whether or not theyve ever done one without the other. I would then ask
my subjects how they define hooking up, which again, is one of the main strengths of qualitative
interviews.
A potential issue with reliability could be people disagreeing with the way I defined my
variables, for example arguing that hooking up means something other than what I said. If my
technique were to be applied/used again, different results could be produced and reliability
would be low. Even subjectivity could be an issue. I am one person with my own attitudes and
demeanors so through my interviews, I may receive one set of answers from my respondents that
another interviewer does not due to their different attitudes. In addition, because I would be
asking people questions about themselves, they may answer differently to different people at
different times. In order to avoid these reliability issues, I would plan to only ask questions
relevant to them and ones that they know the answer to. I would also be clear on what I am
asking. A potential issue with internal validity could be respondents lying about hooking up or
making up answers because they are embarrassed or uncomfortable about telling a stranger the
truth. For example, saying they had 3 drinking when they really had 8 or 9. Another reason they
might lie is because they are nervous to open up about their sexual life.

Ethical considerations (guidelines): 1. Voluntary Participation- Because I would be

asking respondents to reveal somewhat personal information about themselves, participation
would not be forced and would be completely voluntary. 2. Respect- Participants would have a
full understanding of why they are participating, what the research is for, and would be respected
for their time. 3. Protection of identity (confidentiality) - Although revealing their answers would
not physically harm them in any way, this information is personal and private therefore it should
be kept private. They do have a right to privacy considering its their sexual life. And since I
would be asking for information regarding drinking under the legal drinking age, assuring my
respondents confidentiality would increase their likelihood of providing more honest answers.
Appendix A (example of instrument):
To interviewee:
Thank you for agreeing to take part in this interview. You will be asked ten open-ended questions
pertaining to the role of alcohol in hooking up. There are no right or wrong answers. I am just
interested in your personal experience and views. For further clarification, do you consent to this
interview being recorded to be used as data in a future report? All answers will remain
confidential.
Section 1: Controls/demographics
Questions one-three:
What past or present experience do you have with hooking up? What happened and what
was it like?
Was the hook up with a stranger or an acquaintance?
Did the hook up lead to anything further, such as a relationship? If not, how did you act
towards each other in the future?

Section 2: Items that inform about the independent variable(s) of interest

Questions four-six:
Was alcohol involved? Had you or your partner been drinking? If so, how much?
Do you think the hook up would have happened if alcohol wasnt involved? Why?
Have you ever hooked up with someone sober?
Section 3: Items that inform about the dependent variable(s) of interest
Questions seven-ten:
If so, do you think alcohol plays a significant role in hooking up? How?
Can you tell me a little bit about your non-hookup sexual/relationship activity?
Do you believe hooking up to be the norm among college students? In your opinion, what
are some other perceived notions about hooking up?
Do you find that your peers/friends encourage or discourage your hook up behavior? And
vice versa?
Conclusion
In conclusion, the correlation between alcohol and hooking up is an important
relationship and overall topic to explore and understand because it seems to be the norm among
college students today. Hooking up has come to be known as the popular method of how young
adults get together. Therefore, its even more essential for researchers to be able to answer the
question of How do underclassmen (men and women) who participate in campus hookup
culture understand their behavior and the role of alcohol therein? I was passionate about this
topic because I am a college student myself who is constantly immersed in the hook up culture
here at Penn State and would like to gain a better understanding of the inner workings of this
concept. Some implications that I would expect to stem from my research would be that a
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majority of hook ups, if not all, involve alcohol and would not have occurred if the students
hadnt been drunk. However, like every other research study, there were limitations to my study.
One, I had to be very careful about not being selective in my sampling approach so that I could
gain a more complete and accurate understanding of those who do and do not participate in the
hook up culture. This would entail interviewing students regardless if they have hooked up,
consumed alcohol, or done neither. I also had to caution myself from overgeneralizing because
although people may assume one thing, the research will show another. For example, that in
reality, fewer college students hook up/drink than is generally assumed by the public. From the
research I looked at, I feel as If I now have a better and more complete understanding of how
alcohol is an integral part in the hook up culture and why many hook ups wouldnt occur if
alcohol werent involved. However, I would advise future researchers to look at whether or not
hooking up increases the risk of unwanted sexual contact, such as sexual abuse, above other
forms of sexual interaction. I would also be interested to see the results of a study where
researchers compare college students who drink heavily compared to those who dont, and the
outcomes of hooking up in these different situations.

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Appendix B
1. What past or present experience do you have with hooking up? What happened and
what was it like?
2. Was the hook up with a stranger or an acquaintance?
3. Did the hook up lead to anything further, such as a relationship? If not, how did you
act towards each other in the future?
4. Was alcohol involved? Had you or your partner been drinking? If so, how much?
5. Do you think the hook up would have happened if alcohol wasnt involved? Why?
6. Have you ever hooked up with someone sober?
7. If so, do you think alcohol plays a significant role in hooking up? How?
8. Can you tell me a little bit about your non-hookup sexual/relationship activity?
9. Do you believe hooking up to be the norm among college students? In your opinion,
what are some other perceived notions about hooking up?
10. Do you find that your peers/friends encourage or discourage your hook up behavior?
And vice versa?

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References
Claxton, S. E., & van Dulmen, Manfred H. M. (2013). Casual sexual relationships and
experiences in emerging adulthood. Emerging Adulthood, 1(2), 138-150.
Flack, W. F., Daubman, K. A., Caron, M. L., Asadorian, J. A., D'Aureli, N. R., Gigliotti, S. N.. .
Stine, E. R. (2007). Risk factors and consequences of unwanted sex among university
students: Hooking up, alcohol, and stress response. Journal of Interpersonal Violence,
22(2), 139-157. doi:10.1177/0886260506295354
Lefkowitz, E. S., Waterman, E. A., Morgan, N. R., & Maggs, J. L. (2015, October 30). College
Students' Perceptions of the Links Between Alcohol Use and Sexual Experiences.
Emerging Adulthood.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2002). High-risk drinking in college:
What we know and what we need to learn. Retrieved December 2, 2015, from
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/Reports/Panel01/Panel01_TOC.aspx
National Research Council. (1996). Understanding violence against women. Washington, DC:
National Academy Press.

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